Sahara

The wall panel created by Gabriel Tan is made of cork, a natural material that offers excellent acoustic properties. As simple and spontaneous as a sand formation carved by the wind, its shape is the perfect starting point for creating a multitude of patterns – from the asymmetrical to the symmetrical, from geometrically strict configurations to dynamic, random formations reminiscent of sand dunes.

Sahara is made out of waste material from the production of wine corks at a factory in Portugal. Cork production occurs in harmony with nature; indeed, it helps to preserve Portugal’s beautiful groves and forests of cork oaks, which in turn provide essential habitat for the Iberian imperial eagle and other wildlife. Without cork production, the country’s cork forests would risk being replaced by farmland.